The value of "Good enough"

"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario)
10/15/2018 at 10:08 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with MasterMario

I’ve been browsing 4 door sedans since I will need to get one once I sell our truck...while I would love something RWD or AWD with a manual the cars I’ve been interested in all seem to command a premium and are difficult to find.

So far I’ve mostly been looking at Lexus ISs , Subaru Legacy GTs, and Subaru WRXs...I need to keep it under $10k.

While perusing I came across this Lexus GS300 for under $4k...that’s a lot of car for the money with a great engine under the hood. If this is what I can get by ditching the manual I might just do that, plus that means extra money for other projects.

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DISCUSSION (33)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 10:30

https://rockford.craigslist.org/cto/d/2007-bmw-328i/6706739004.html

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 10:31

I’ve been a big proponent of “pretty good” cars for a long ass time. My daily driver is a 2004 Chevy Tahoe, and you know what, its pretty good! I’d rather have something newer, or something with more power, or something all around cooler, but the damn thing just works. That GS is a ton of car for the money, and even with the automatic it’ll be plenty of fun.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/15/2018 at 10:36

Yea, I know I could get a decent 3 series in that price range...I’m just to stuck on the whole “nothing’s more expensive than a cheap German car” thing. I know it’s probably not entirely deserved, I might need to talk myself into it though.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/15/2018 at 10:38

I know, I was first like “what’s wrong with it? ”...but it seems the big luxury sedans depreciate A LOT even if it’s just a fancy Toyota.

random001 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 10:42

The Montero is making come around to the good enough camp. I hate to think I may be losing my need for speed....

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 10:49

I nearly went loco looking for the unicorn X5 with the exact options I wanted for the price I was willing to pay; it was too stressful. Gave up and got something that was “good enough” but totally different.

Anyways, the GS is one of the best sedans ever made. I like them more than the IS, and I think you will too. Plus the 300 has the Supra engine! (Not really, but it’s similar)

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/15/2018 at 10:51

That’s...a bad listing. All sorts of no.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
10/15/2018 at 10:53

That’s kind of what I’m thinking now...it would mostly be for commuting anyways so I don’t really need a manual and I’d still have a car with one for those fun days

ToyotaFamily > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 10:55

The GS would be great, maybe even an LS.

Have you considered a G35? You can get them with a manual

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > random001
10/15/2018 at 10:55

I at least still will have a fun car...while I’d like my daily commuter to be a fun car too it really doesn’t need to be. I too am getting older...damn it.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > ToyotaFamily
10/15/2018 at 10:56

Completely forgot about the G35...it’ll definitely be on my list too.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 10:56

You know what they say: a bird in the hand beats two in the bush.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/15/2018 at 11:00

Haha...so I’ve always heard it and said it as “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Hearing “beats two in the bush” had my head picturing someone beating two birds in a bush with another bird...I don’t know what that says about me but I found it hilarious.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:04

Kinja'd!!!

Dropping the ma nual requirement opens up a frighteningly large market of depreciated comfy but sporty cruisers . It's worth considering.

Kinja'd!!!

MarquetteLa > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:09

If you really do want an AWD manual sedan, don’t overlook these. I quite like mine. https://racine.craigslist.org/cto/d/2006-mazdaspeed-6/6705072890.html

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:10

The GS will surprise you how good it is.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:12

I wouldn’t by this one because of the Mods, and it’s pre- LCI(facelift) . But i dig that color a lot.

If you find a manual 09-11 328i I would highly suggest at least taking it for a test drive.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > MarquetteLa
10/15/2018 at 11:12

I thought these were FWD only...am I wrong?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
10/15/2018 at 11:13

That’ s fai r. modded cars are scary. I just like the color.

bob and john > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:14

the mazda SPEED 6 was AWD only.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
10/15/2018 at 11:15

That’s good to hear...they seem to be very reasonable too

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > bob and john
10/15/2018 at 11:16

How did I never know this? Wow

wafflesnfalafel > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
10/15/2018 at 11:25

A guy I work with is one of those first gen x5 aficionados - had one for a while, manual even, but wasn’t exactly what he wanted and spent a bunch of time trying to find the unicorn, (never found it.) There definitely is a small but dedicated group of first gen x5 lovers out there.

bob and john > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:34

no, it JUST the speed 6.

the regular 6 was FWD only yes

keep in mind these cars were relativly...rust prone

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > bob and john
10/15/2018 at 11:43

Yea...i had no idea the speed 6 was AWD only.

And they’re notorious for rust issues so I’d probably avoid them anyways since I live in the salt belt

interstate366, now In The Industry > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:44

I'd suggest a 4th gen Acura TL, but good luck finding a manual one in your budget.

interstate366, now In The Industry > bob and john
10/15/2018 at 11:45

Yeah. My friend and I looked at one yesterday. The rust wasn't too bad, but the car had some issues that concerned us.

MarquetteLa > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:46

As Peter Black said, the Speed6 is full-time AWD with a LSD in the rear. The rear wheel arches are prone to rust as seen in that listing I linked to, but there are clean examples out there, like mine with 118k miles on it. If you do end up looking at any, j ust make sure the VVT service has been done.

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MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > interstate366, now In The Industry
10/15/2018 at 11:48

Thanks for the suggestion...I didn’t even know they came as AWD. I guess pretty much everything has that option though these days.

dogisbadob > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 11:57

I thought the SX4 sedan would be a good choice, but it turns out the sedan is FWD-only. However, the SX4 wagon is available with AWD+manual.

You can get an X-Type sedan with AWD and manual.

The S-Type and Lincoln LS RWD sedans were available with manual.

The non-V CTS sedan was available with a manual, and they are not expensive at all. Here is one for $5000 .

Someone else already mentioned the MS6 .

The Volvo S40 sedan was available with AWD and stick.

I found a couple of C Classes you might like.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 12:28

If you have any questions about the GS, I had a 98 for a year and ORLG has lots of experience with them as well

interstate366, now In The Industry > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 12:41

Yep, I’ve got one, though it isn’t a manual. I love it. I did a review of it a month or two ago.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/2012-acura-tl-sh-awd-advance-the-oppositelock-review-1828569183

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/15/2018 at 13:10

The problem is that lots and lots of people want a reasonably priced sporty manual equipped car. I find dropping the manual requirement opens things up the most but that’s no fun.

I’ve been eyeing up B7 A4s to replace my turbo beetle. Everything I’ve heard is that they are put together fairly well. The 2.0T needs timing belt at around 90,000 and to stay on top of the cam follower but otherwise not a lot of big issues. For extra piece of mind, find a car with the 3.2 V6. Another bit of a sleeper AWD option; though hard to find, is a later gen Saab 9-3 XWD. But they can be found with a manual.